Antiskid attachment for shoes



June 5, 1934- H. D. DRlscoLL.

ANTISKID ATTACHMENT FOR SHOES Filed Nov, 18, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet. l

June 5, 1934. H, D. DRlscoLl. 1,961,555

ANTISKID vATTACHMENT FOR SHOES Filed NOV. 18, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet, 2

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Patented June 5, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to an anti-skid attach-v ment for shoes and other footwear.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive device of this character especially designed for use by golf players and others and which will present a roughened tread surface to the ground to prevent slipping when executing different golf strokes or when walking on wet or slippery pavements.

A further object of the invention is to provide an anti-skid attachment which may be quickly and conveniently applied to orremoved from the sole of a shoe and which will be entirely housed and supported thereby so as not to present an unsightly appearance or in any manner mar or otherwise damage the marginal edge of the sole of the shoe.

A further object of the invention is to provide an anti-skid attachment including a relatively thin, flexible tread member or plate which will conform to the shape of the shoe sole and accommodate itself to the flexing of the sole in the act of walking or making a golf stroke -and thus not retard 'or interfere with the free movements of the wearer.

Another object is to provide Vmeans for compensating for the unequal flexing of the shoe sole and tread member when bending the foot, whereby undue strain on the fastening devices is avoided and accidental displacement of the tread member positively prevented.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an anti-skid attachment the fastener receiving sockets of which may be built into the shoe during the manufacture thereof or applied thereto after the shoe is made so that the attachment can be used with equally good results either o n new or old shoes. l

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specication:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a shoe provided with an anti-skid attachment embodying the present invention. t

Figure 2 is a side elevation.

Figure 3 is a detail longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing the fixed stationary fastener at the toe of the shoe.

Figure 4 is a similar view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 1, showing the construction of the pin and slot connection between the rear end of the plate and the sole of the shoe to compensate for flexing of the plate.

Figure 5 is a detail view looking in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of Figure 4, showing the manner of locking the headed pin within the slotV of the rear fastener.

Figure 6 is a detail transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a detail longitudinal sectional view showing the top of the slotted plate preferably employed when the attachment is used in connection with old shoes.

Figure 8 is a detail longitudinal sectional view showing a modified form of slotted plate.

Figure 9 is a plan view illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a plan view partly in section of the rear fastener.

Similar numerals of reference indicate correspending parts in all the figures of the drawings. The improved anti-skid attachment forming the subject matter of the present invention is particularly designed for use in connection with golf shoes and by way of illustration is shown in connection with such a shoe in which 5 designates the upper, 6 the inner sole, l the outer sole, and 8 the heel, which may be formed of rubber or leather, as desired.

The device comprises Aa relatively thin, at, flexible tread member or plate 9 preferably formed of metal and of the same general contour or outline as the sole 7 and spaced inwardly from 85 the marginal edge of the sole so as to be entirely housed thereby when the plate is in position on the shoe. The plate 9 may be provided with one or more transverse slots l0 to lighten and increase the flexibility of the plate, and arranged at predetermined intervals between and around said slots are pointed studs 11 so as to present a roughened surface to the ground and prevent slipping when executing a golf stroke or when walking on Wet or slippery pavements. It will be understood, however, that if desired the slots 10 may be dispensed with and any form of traction devices may be employed in lieu of the pins 11 for presenting a roughened surface to the ground.

Secured to or formed integral with the toe ofthe plate 9 is a resilient head 12 forming one element of a detachable fastening device, theother element of which is in the form of a socket 13 embedded in the outer sole 7 and secure1 i-nY` 105 positiondthereon by a nail or similar fastening device 14 extending through the base of the socket and into the inner sole, as best shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The head 12 and socket 13 form a fixed or stationary fastener at the toe of 110 the plate and in order to compensate for the unequal flexing of the plate and shoe sole in the act of bending the foot, a pin and slot connection is arranged at the rear or heel end of the plate. The fastener at the heel end of the plate comprises an elongated socket member 15 embedded in the sole of the shoe and having lateral attaching ears 16 which are secured to the inner sole by fastening devices 17 passing therethrough. The lower face of the socket member 15 is provided with a longitudinal slot 18 defining spaced flanges 19. Secured to or formed integral with the heel end of the plate 10 is an upstanding pin, the shank 20 of which fits within the slot 18 and terminates in a transversely disposed enlarged head 2l adapted to bear against the flanges 19 and prevent the separation of the heel end of the plate from the sole of the shoe while at the same time, permitting a limited longitudinal movement of the head 21 within the socket member l5 to compensate for iiexing of the plate, as previously stated.

When the device is to be-applied to shoes during the manufacture thereof, the sockets 13 and l5 are preferably secured to the inner sole in the manner shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, but when the attachment is to be applied to old or used shoes, an opening or recess will be formed in the outer sole and the socket l5 inserted therein with its outer face countersunk in the tread surface of the sole and secured thereto by nails or similar fastening devices 22, as best shown in Figure 7 of the drawings. If desired, however, the socket member may be dispensed with and in lieu thereof a recess may be formed in the sole of the shoe and a closure plate 234 embedded in the tread surface of the-sole over said recess and provided with a longitudinal slot 24 to receive the head 21 of the rear lfastening, as best shown in Figure 8 of the drawings. A similar plate may be used instead of the socket 13, if desired, and when such a plate is used it will, of course, be understood that the opening therein, instead of being elongated, will be circular to accommodate the head of the front fastener.

In applying the anti-skid device to a shoe, the plate is supported in a position at right angles to the shoe sole 7 so as to permit the head 21 of the rear fastener to enter the slot 18, after which the plate is swung around to a position over and parallel with the shoe sole so as to cause the opposite ends of the head to bear against the flanges 19. The toe of the plate is then positioned over the socket 13 and the resilient head 15 pressed into said socket, thereby firmly holding the plate in position on the tread surface of the shoe sole. In order to remove the plate it is merely necessary towexert a slight outward pressure on the toe of the plate to disengage the front fastening elements and then swing the plate laterally of the sole when the head' 21 of the pin may be readily removed through the slot 18 of the rear fastener. In this connection, it will be noted that owing to the .provision of the slot 18 in the socket member.

15, the resilient head of the front fastener may be readily positioned within its socket as the slot 18 will allow a slight longitudinal movement of the plate so as to permit the head 15 to be brought to a position directly over the socket and inserted therein. It will furthermore be noted that the pin and slot connection between the heel end of the plate and the sole of the shoe compensates for unequal flexing of the shoe sole and plate in the act of walking or when bending the foot to execute difficult strokes in playing golf. If the pin and slot connection were not provided, the unequal flexing of the plate and shoe sole would tend to disengage the fastening devices and this .pin and slot connection, therefore, serves the dual function of permitting proper centering of the members comprising the toe fastener and also to compensate for flexing of the anti-skid plate. Furthermore, the front and rear fasteners form the sole means of detachably securing the plate to the tread surface of the sole, thus dispensing with clamps and similar fastening devices which usually project from the plate over the marginal edge of the sole of the shoe and not only present an unsightly appearance but also tend to mar or otherwise damage the leather at the edge of the sole.

If desired, a similar device may be attached to the tread surface of the heel of the shoe but under ordinary circumstances the anti-skid device on the sole of the shoe will-be suflicient to offer the necessary traction surface to the ground.

In Figure 9 of the drawings there is illustrated a modied form of the invention in which the tread member instead of being a plate is in the form of a toggle lever, the links 25 of which are relatively thin and flexible and pivotally con nected at 26 so as to allow the tread member to conform to the tread surface of the sole of the shoe and permit flexing of the plate in the act of walking. The pivot pins 26 may be provided with terminal points 27 which act as anti-skid devices and owing to the pivotal connection between the links, said links will permit slight expansionand contraction of the tread member to accommodate the exing of the sole of the shoe when the latter is bent upwardly when making a golf stroke. The link at the forward end of the tread member is provided with a substantially circular head 28 and the material at the center of the head is pressed or forced laterally to provide one member 29 of a resilient snap fastener, the other member 30 of which is preferably countersunk in the sole of the shoe as shown. Secured to the rear end of thesole of the shoe is a plate 3l which extends over a slot or recess 32 in the sole of the shoe and is provided with a keyhole slot 33 adapted to receive a correspondingly shaped locking pin 34 secured to a rear head 34 on the adjacent toggle link so that when the head 35 of the pin is moved to a position against the under side of the plate 31, the tread member will be held against accidental separation from the sole of the shoe. l

In applying this form of the device the tread member is positioned at substantially right angles to the longitudinal plane of the sole of the shoe and the head 34 of the locking pin inserted in the keyhole slot 33. The tread member is then swung laterally to a position in longitudinal alinement with the sole of the shoe and the member 29 of the fastener snapped into engagement with the socket 30, the lateral movement of the tread member toward the shoe sole serving to cause the head 35 of the locking pin to bear against the under face of the plate 31 and hold the tread member in position on the sole of the shoe. The fastener 29 instead of being formed integral with the head 28, may be made separate and riveted or otherwise fastened to said head.

It will, of course, be understood that the devices may be made in different sizes and shapes and constructed of any suitable material without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination with a shoe sole having a socket in the tread surface thereof and a slotted plate secured to said sole in spaced relation to the socket, of a iiexible anti-skid tread member bearing against said tread surface, a head carried by the forward-end of the tread member and detachably engaging the socket, and a headed pin carried by the rear end of the tread member and fitted within the slotted plate and movable to a position transversely of the slot to hold'the tread member in position on the shoe sole.

2. The combination'with a shoe sole having a socket in the tread surface thereof and a slotted plate spaced from said socket and provided with inwardly extending flanges, of a exible antiskid plate bearing against said tread surface, a resilient head carried by the front end of the plate and fitting within the socket, and a pin carried by the rear end of the flexible plate and having a transverse head movable into engagement with the flanges for holding said flexible plate in position on the tread surface and to compensate for flexing thereof.

3. An anti-.skid attachment for shoes comprising a iiexible tread member, traction devices depending from the tread member, a substantially circular resilient head. projecting upwardly from the forward end of the tread member for engagement with a socket, and a headed pin projecting upwardly from the rear end of the tread member and adapted to enter a slot in a shoe sole.v

`4. An anti-skid attachment for shoes comprising a flexible tread member adapted to 'bear against the tread surface of a shoe with its entire marginal edge spaced inwardly from and independent of the marginal edge of the sole of thev shoe, traction devices depending from the tread member, a substantially circular resilient head carried by the forward end of the tread member and adapted to enter a socket in the sole of the shoe, and a -T-shaped head carried by the rear end ofthe tread member and adapted to enter a slot in the shoe sole to permit flexing of the tread member when in position on the sole.

5. The combination with a shoe sole, of a relatively thin flexible plate bearing against the tread surface of the sole and entirely housed and supported thereby, said plate conforming to the i shape of the shoe sole and being spaced inwardly from the marginal edge thereof, tractiondevices carried by the plate, a resilient head at one end of the plate and adapted to detachably engage the shoe sole, and a pin and slot connection beslot defining inwardly extending flanges, of a relatively thin flexible anti-skid plate detachably secured to the tread surface of the sole and having a resilient head at one end adapted to engage the circular socket, and a pin projecting upwardly from the other end of the plate and provided with a transverse head adapted to t within the elongated socket and bea-r against the flanges thereof when the resilient head engages the circular socket whereby to prevent displacement of the plate and compensate for flexing thereof.

7. An anti-skid attachment for shoes comprising a tread member formed of pivotally connected toggle links adapted to bear against the tread surface of a shoe sole in inwardly spaced relation to the marginal edge of said shoe sole, anti-skid devices carried by the toggle links, a head on one end of the tread member for engagement with an attaching socket, and a headed pin on the other end of the tread member adapted to enter a slot in an attaching plate.

8. An anti-skid attachment for shoe soles comprising a tread member formed of pivotally connected toggle links, one of the links at each end of the tread member being provided with an enlargement, said tread member being adapted to bear against the tread surface of a shoe sole with one of the enlargements spaced inwardly from the toe of the shoe and the other enlargement spaced from'the heel of the shoe, anti-skidl devices carried by the pivots of the toggle links, a resilient head on the forward enlargement for engagement with a socket in the shoe sole, and a HUGH D. DRISCOLL. [1.. s.] 

